Roosters not yet NRL benchmark: Cordner

Boyd Cordner admits the Sydney Roosters aren’t setting the standard this NRL season but believe they have a couple of aces up their sleeves in Blake Ferguson and Michael Jennings.

With Brisbane and North Queensland topping the table, Cordner can’t help but admire the way the banana benders are going about their business.

The first all-Queensland grand final is becoming a more viable possibility with each passing week with the Cowboys (13 from their last 14) and the Broncos (seven straight wins) both on impressive trots.

Their consistency has been exemplary and while the Roosters are flying high in third, they have had their troughs, in particular a four-match losing streak in the first third of the season.

In the minds of many, the Roosters are the only side capable of keeping the Provan-Summons Trophy south of the Tweed and the bookies still rate them the premiership favourites.

While Cordner would back himself and his teammates in any showdown, he says the the Cowboys and the Broncos have set the benchmark this year with their consistency.

“They (the Brisbane and North Queensland) been playing some great footy and they’ve been in form all year, they haven’t had that slump or whatever,” Cordner said.

“At this time of year we’re focussed on ourselves and if we can do what we want to do right we’ll be pretty hard to beat.”

Cordner was rested from the side’s 24-0 dismantling of the Warriors on Sunday after a rigorous State of Origin campaign.

He revealed he remonstrated with coach Trent Robinson and it wasn’t until several back and forth phone calls that he finally submitted.

After their shut-out of the Warriors, Robinson made the admission that he was still trying to work out how to use Ferguson and Jennings to full effect.

It’s a curious statement given Ferguson’s devastating form, running for 200-plus metres in both of his last two outings and making five line breaks and coming up with one try assist in that same period.

Cordner said having Ferguson on one edge, and NSW centre Jennings on the other, set the Tricolours apart from other sides.

“They’re two of our strike players and they showed on the weekend what they can do,” Cordner said.

“It’s great for us having both of them on different edges.”

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